What Is Sodium metasilicate?
Sodium silicate is a white or colorless substance that can come in different forms such as powder, pellets, crystals or liquid. It has many uses, including as an anticorrosive and buffering agent in cosmetics. However, it can be harmful if it comes into contact with skin or eyes and should not be ingested. Sodium silicate is also used as a glue and denuding agent for tripe. It is sometimes called sodium metasilicate and is commonly used in food processing to remove hair from animals like hogs and to prevent corrosion in canned or bottled water products.
What is the purpose of Sodium metasilicate in personal care products?
It is used for its anti-corrosive
, buffering, and chelating characteristics.
Sodium metasilicate protects packaging material from corrosion, regulates the pH balance, and prevents ingredient degradation.
Names and identifiers that we found for this substance include: Sodium Metasilicate, Disodium oxosilanebis(olate), Sodium silicate, Sodium silicate (Na2SiO3), "Silicic acid (H2SiO3), disodium salt", and "Silanediolate, 1-oxo-, sodium salt (1:2)".
What Are Anti-Corrosive Ingredients?
Sodium metasilicate has anti-corrosive characteristics.
Anti-corrosive ingredients are substances added to the packaging material to prevent it from corrosion. Corrosion occurs when the packaging material reacts with the product's contents, causing it to deteriorate and potentially contaminate the product.
To prevent this issue, manufacturers add anti-corrosive ingredients to the packaging material. These ingredients form a protective layer on the surface of the packaging, which prevents the product's contents from coming into contact with the packaging material. Adding these ingredients helps to prolong the product's shelf life and maintain its quality.
Anti-corrosive ingredients can come in various forms, such as coatings, laminates, or barriers. Some common anti-corrosive ingredients used in cosmetic packaging include epoxy resins, polyvinyl chloride, and polyethylene.
What Are Buffering Ingredients?
Sodium metasilicate has buffering characteristics.
Buffering ingredients helps regulate and maintain the pH balance of cosmetic products. The pH scale is a method used to determine a mixture's acidity or alkalinity level. Our skin's natural pH balance helps it stay healthy and function properly. When cosmetic products are applied to the skin, they can alter the pH balance, potentially causing irritation or other adverse effects.
Buffering ingredients neutralize or adjust the pH of cosmetic products to match that of the skin, which helps minimize the risk of irritation or damage. By maintaining a consistent pH balance, buffering ingredients can also improve the stability and effectiveness of a product's active ingredients.
Types of Buffering Ingredients
Here are some of the most common types of buffering ingredients:
Alkalis: These have a high pH and are used to neutralize acids. They help maintain the product's pH within a desired range.
Acids: These have a low pH and are used to neutralize alkalis. They help maintain the cosmetic product's pH within a desired range.
Salts: These are formed when an acid and a base (alkali) are mixed. They help maintain the cosmetic product's stability by preventing changes in pH caused by external factors such as heat or exposure to air.
What Are Chelating Ingredients?
Sodium metasilicate has chelating characteristics.
Chelating ingredients in cosmetic products help maintain the product's effectiveness and stability by preventing degradation. They work by binding to metal ions, such as calcium, magnesium, and iron, that can be present in the water used to make the product or that may be present on the skin.
These metal ions can cause the cosmetic product to deteriorate over time, leading to color, texture, and odor changes. Chelating ingredients help to prevent this by capturing the metal ions and preventing them from reacting with the other ingredients in the product.
In addition, chelating ingredients can help enhance preservatives' effectiveness by preventing them from being deactivated by metal ions.
Chelating Ingredients in Other Products
Chelating ingredients can be used in food and beverages to control metal ions affecting taste, color, and texture. For example, they stabilize colors in canned fruits and vegetables and prevent oxidation in wine.
Chelating agents are used in pharmaceutical products to help improve their stability and shelf life. They can help to prevent metal-catalyzed degradation and enhance the effectiveness of certain drugs.
Types of Chelating Ingredients
Here are some of the most common types of chelating ingredients:
Amino acids and peptides: These compounds contain functional groups that can form coordination bonds with metal ions, such as carboxylic acid and amine groups.
Polycarboxylic acids: These are complex organic acids with multiple carboxylic acid functional groups that can form strong chelating complexes with metal ions.
Organic acids: These include citric acid, acetic acid, and oxalic acid, which can form chelating complexes with metal ions.
Sugars and sugar acids: These include compounds such as glucose, fructose, and gluconic acid, which can form chelating complexes with metal ions.
Polyamines: These are organic compounds with multiple amine functional groups that can form coordination bonds with metal ions.
Hydroxycarboxylic acids: These include compounds such as gluconic acid and tartaric acid, which can form chelating complexes with metal ions.
Sulfonic acids: These are organic acids containing functional groups that can form chelating complexes with metal ions.
Phosphates: These include compounds such as phosphoric acid, which can form chelating complexes with metal ions.
Safety
Remember, always read and follow the instructions provided on product labels carefully. If you have any questions or concerns about using a product containing various ingredients, consult with your doctor or healthcare provider before use.